Cultural Treasures Foundation
International Understanding Through Art & Culture
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About

About the Cultural Treasures Foundation™

The Cultural Treasures Foundation is a nonprofit District of Columbia corporation, exempt from federal income taxation under 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Its mission is to promote international understanding through art and culture, using creative media projects and domestic and international artistic exchanges. The Foundation was organized under the leadership of the late Ambassador Richard C. Barkley, who fervently believed in the power of cultural diplomacy.

Ambassador Barkley was the last American ambassador to East Germany during the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany (1988-1990) as well as American ambassador to Turkey (1991-1994). Ambassador Barkley and two directors of the Foundation – Susan Lutzker and Arnold Lutzker - were responsible for organizing Palace of Gold & Light: Treasures from the Topkapi, Istanbul, which toured the United States in 2000-2001. The exhibition was sponsored by the nonprofit Palace Arts Foundation and, according to the Turkish Embassy, resulted in increased American interest in and tourism to Turkey. The assets of the Palace Arts Foundation, including its rights to the exhibition catalog, have been transferred to the Foundation. In 1996, Arnold Lutzker was one of the key organizers of Jewels of the Romanovs, a U.S. touring exhibition from Russia.

The Foundation’s board is composed of individuals who bring diverse experiences to the shared goal of enhancing cross-cultural understanding through art and culture.

In Memoriam

RICHARD C. BARKLEY, CHAIRMAN, CULTURAL TREASURES FOUNDATION • December 23, 1932 – January 30, 2015

RICHARD C. BARKLEY, CHAIRMAN, CULTURAL TREASURES FOUNDATION • December 23, 1932 – January 30, 2015

Richard Barkley’s belief that art is a powerful vehicle for diplomacy inspired the creation of the Cultural Treasures Foundation, as it did – more than a decade ago – the Palace Arts Foundation and its Palace of Gold & Light exhibition.

Ambassador Barkley’s brilliant career in the Foreign Service, especially his critical role as the last U.S. ambassador to East Germany (from 1988 until reunification in 1990) and a beloved ambassador to Turkey (from 1991 to his retirement in 1994) is a matter of public record. Less well known is his passion for the culture and the art - the treasures - of the countries in which he served. Out of this passion grew his conviction that artistic exchanges have a role to play in increasing understanding and tolerance among peoples of the world.

We who were fortunate enough to have followed Ambassador Barkley down this road have been forever changed by the experience. We hope to honor his memory and carry on the work that was so close to his heart.

Upcoming Events

To be announced.

Past Events

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3RD, 2020
5:00PM - 6:00PM EST

The International Committee, in association with the Cultural Treasures Foundation, was honored to present:

Stealing from the Saracens: How Islamic Culture Shaped Europe

Stealing From the Saracens: How Islamic Architecture Shaped Europe

with world renowned Middle East cultural expert, Ms. Diana Darke.

South facade of Church of Saint Simeon Stylites, Syria. Reproduced under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en
Notre Dame de Paris. Image licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Ms. Diana Darke is an Oxford educated Arabist, linguist, and author, and holds an M.A. in Islamic Art and Archaeology from London's School of Oriental and African Studies. She has lived and worked in the Middle East for over 30 years, with a deep focus on Syria and Turkey. She is a frequent contributor to British newspapers and a commentator for the BBC. Ms. Darke is the author of many books, including "My House in Damascus: An Inside View of the Syrian Crisis" (2015), "The Merchant of Syria: A History of Survival" (2018), "The Last Sanctuary in Aleppo" (2019), with co-author Alaa Aljaleel, and a series of fascinating travel guides for the region.

Ms. Darke spoke to us from her home in London, and shared with us her compelling new book published in the U.S. by Oxford University Press, "Stealing from the Saracens." The book explores the constant interplay, tensions, borrowing, and uses of techniques and styles from Byzantine and Islamic Syria, as well as Ottoman and Persian inventions in engineering and architecture. Indeed, she points out the "Eastern" origins of many European structures including Notre Dame de Paris, the Burgos Cathedral in northern Spain, as well as Cordoba with its heavy Moorish influence in style and structure. In the United States, we see some of the same Eastern influences and interweaving of styles, including Yale University, St. John the Divine in NYC, and Washington's Capitol Building with its Islamic double dome technique assuring height and stability. Diana Darke also serves as a Non-Resident Scholar in the Syria Program at The Middle East Institute, Washington, D.C.


QUEENS OF EGYPT: AN INSIDER'S VIEW

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2019
7:00PM - 9:00PM

The University Club of Washington, DC
1135 16th Street NW • Washington, DC 20036

More Info: (202)408-7600 x2 or Email susan@culturaltreasures.org



The Cultural Treasures Foundation, in partnership with the National Geographic Society and the University Club of Washington, DC, presented an evening with National Geographic’s archaeologist-in-residence, Dr. Fredrik Hiebert. He shared his insider views into the creation of the exhibit and site excavations in the Valley of the Queens. Dr. Hiebert spoke about the hidden role of women in all aspects of ancient Egyptian society and introduced seven Egyptian queens who helped shape both the ancient and modern worlds. He spoke about their daily lives, responsibilities, and the tombs’ treasures that accompanied these influential queens to the afterlife.

EXHIBIT INFO


About Our Speaker

Fredrik Hiebert, archaeologist-in-residence at the National Geographic Society

 

Fredrik Hiebert, archaeologist-in-residence at the National Geographic Society, has brought great stories of archaeological discovery to the pages of National Geographic for more than 16 years.

Hiebert completed his doctoral dissertation at Harvard University in 1992 and held the Robert H. Dyson chair of archaeology at the University of Pennsylvania before joining the National Geographic Society in 2003. Among other honors, Hiebert received the Chairman's Award from the National Geographic Committee for Research and Exploration.

He started his career at National Geographic with Robert Ballard as his mentor, searching for intact shipwrecks and flooded landscapes in the Black Sea. With this great start, Hiebert went on to find the missing treasures of Afghanistan, excavate at the original port of Sindbad the sailor, search for the Tomb of Genghis Khan, find a submerged palace of Tamerlane the Great - and in a quest looking for the greatest missing people of history, is searching for the physical remains of Amelia Earhart, Nefertiti, Cleopatra, and Alexander the Great, using everything from forensic dogs to 3-D ground penetrating radar.

As National Geographic's archaeologist-in-residence, he extends the enthusiasm for archaeology to the public in lectures, presentations, films, and museum exhibits. These exhibitions travel world-wide and include: Treasures from Afghanistan, Peruvian Gold, The Greeks, Ancient Seafarers, Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archaeology, and most recently an immersive exhibition experience: The Tomb of Christ.

As the curator of the Queens of Egypt exhibition, he will give an insider's view of the story and the exhibition.


TITANIC: THE UNTOLD STORY

MONDAY DECEMBER 17, 2018
6:30PM - 8:00PM

The University Club of Washington, DC
1135 16th Street NW • Washington, DC 20036

More Info: (202)408-7600 x2 or Email susan@culturaltreasures.org



The Cultural Treasures Foundation, in partnership with the National Geographic Society and the University Club of Washington, DC, presented an evening with National Geographic’s archaeologist-in-residence, Dr. Fredrik Hiebert, and other special guests. They shared their insider views of the dramatic discovery and exploration of the Titanic against the background of a secret Cold War mission as well as the preservation issues that continue to surround this epic tragedy. The project was the subject of an interactive exhibition at National Geographic's Museum in Washington.

To learn more about the exhibition:

EXHIBIT INFO


About Our Speaker

Fredrik Hiebert, archaeologist-in-residence at the National Geographic Society

 

Fredrik Hiebert, archaeologist-in-residence at the National Geographic Society, has brought great stories of archaeological discovery to the pages of National Geographic for more than 16 years.

Hiebert completed his doctoral dissertation at Harvard University in 1992 and held the Robert H. Dyson chair of archaeology at the University of Pennsylvania before joining the National Geographic Society in 2003. Among other honors, Hiebert received the Chairman's Award from the National Geographic Committee for Research and Exploration.

He started his career at National Geographic with Robert Ballard as his mentor, searching for intact shipwrecks and flooded landscapes in the Black Sea. With this great start, Hiebert went on to find the missing treasures of Afghanistan, excavate at the original port of Sindbad the sailor, search for the Tomb of Genghis Khan, find a submerged palace of Tamerlane the Great - and in a quest looking for the greatest missing people of history, is searching for the physical remains of Amelia Earhart, Nefertiti, Cleopatra, and Alexander the Great, using everything from forensic dogs to 3-D ground penetrating radar.

As National Geographic's archaeologist-in-residence, he extends the enthusiasm for archaeology to the public in lectures, presentations, films, and museum exhibits. These exhibitions travel world-wide and include: Treasures from Afghanistan, Peruvian Gold, The Greeks, Ancient Seafarers, Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archaeology, and most recently an immersive exhibition experience: The Tomb of Christ.

As a tribute to his mentor, here, he delves into the story of Titanic: The Untold Story, to give an insider's view of the story and the exhibition.


TOMB OF CHRIST: AN INSIDE VIEW OF HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL RESTORATION

"TOMB OF CHRIST" — AN INSIDE VIEW OF HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL RESTORATION

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2018
6:30PM - 8:00PM

The University Club of Washington, DC
1135 16th Street NW • Washington, DC 20036

More Info: (202)408-7600 x2 or Email susan@culturaltreasures.org


The Cultural Treasures Foundation, in partnership with the National Geographic Society and the University Club of Washington, DC, presented a fascinating evening with National Geographic's archaeologist-in-residence Fredrik Hiebert. The event was attended by nearly 100 people.

Dr. Hiebert shared his insider view of the restoration of the Edicule of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. This painstaking restoration was carried out in less than a year by an international team of experts, often working at night so as not to disturb the millions of religious pilgrims who visit the site each year. The project is the subject of an immersive exhibition at National Geographic's Museum in Washington (attendees will receive a promotion code for a discount on tickets to the exhibition).

To learn more about the exhibition: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/dc/exhibitions/tomb-of-christ/


About Our Speaker

Fredrik Hiebert, archaeologist-in-residence at the National Geographic Society

 

Fredrik Hiebert, archaeologist-in-residence at the National Geographic Society has worked on all seven continents of the world, and brought great stories of archaeological discovery to the pages of National Geographic for more than 15 years.

A field archaeologist and explorer, Hiebert has traced ancient trade routes overland and across the seas for more than 30 years. Hiebert has led excavations at ancient Silk Road sites across Asia, from Egypt to Mongolia. His excavations at a 4,000-year-old Silk Road city in Turkmenistan made headlines around the world. He also conducts underwater archaeology projects in South America's Lake Titicaca, and in the highest lake of the Silk Road in search of submerged settlements.

Hiebert completed his doctoral dissertation at Harvard University in 1992 and held the Robert H. Dyson chair of archaeology at the University of Pennsylvania before joining the National Geographic Society in 2003. Among other honors, Hiebert received the Chairman's Award from the National Geographic Committee for Research and Exploration in 1998.

As National Geographic's archeologist-in-residence, he extends the enthusiasm for archaeology to the public in lectures, presentations, films, and museum exhibits. These exhibitions travel world-wide and include: Treasures from Afghanistan, Peruvian Gold, The Greeks, Ancient Seafarers, Indiana Jones and the Adventure of Archaeology, and most recently an immersive exhibition experience: The Tomb of Christ.


We also encourage you to make a tax-deductible contribution via PayPal™ to further the work of the Cultural Treasures Foundation.

To donate to the Cultural Treasures Foundation click here.


The Lion of al-Lāt - it adorned a pre-Islamic temple in Palmyra, Syria since the first century B.C. and was destroyed by ISIS in 2015.
Source: https://fayezthezealot.wordpress.com

Preserving Cultural Heritage in Conflict Zones

Monday, December 12, 2016
6:30PM - 8:00PM

The University Club of Washington, DC
1135 16th Street NW • Washington, DC 20036

More Info: (202)408-7600 x2 or Email susan@culturaltreasures.org


The Cultural Treasures Foundation held the first in a series of educational events on topics of cultural importance on Monday, December 12, 2016, co-presented with the University Club of Washington, D.C. and attended by 100 people.

The deliberate destruction of cultural heritage long has been used as a tool of war and demoralization among sectarian and ethnic communities around the world. From Afghanistan to Mali, and most especially in Iraq and Syria, antiquities and ancient sites have been devastated by warfare and looting in the past two decades.

Scholars and governments are coming together in an attempt to use science, technology, and on-site training in valiant attempts to document, investigate, and possibly re-create some of the treasures of civilization recently lost to violent, purposeful eradication.

Three specialists who are attempting to document and halt this destruction discussed their efforts. The program featured:

The panel was moderated by Dr. Elizabeth M. Boles, member of the Board of Directors of the Cultural Treasures Foundation.


Dr. Elizabeth Boles

presenting at the Cultural Treasures Foundation event on Preserving Cultural Heritage, University Club of Washington, December 12, 2016

Dr. Katharyn Hanson

presenting at the Cultural Treasures Foundation event on Preserving Cultural Heritage, University Club of Washington, December 12, 2016

Corine Wegener

presenting at the Cultural Treasures Foundation event on Preserving Cultural Heritage, University Club of Washington, December 12, 2016

Dr. Brian Daniels

presenting at the Cultural Treasures Foundation event on Preserving Cultural Heritage, University Club of Washington, December 12, 2016



Ngarra, Kurdi and Karngku, 2006
Synthetic polymer paint on paper
14 x 20 in. (35 x 50 cm)
© The estate of Ngarra, courtesy Mossenson Galleries, Perth

"NO BOUNDARIES" – AN EVENING OF ART
AT THE AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2017
6:30PM - 8:00PM

EMBASSY OF AUSTRALIA
1601 Massachusetts Ave, NW • Washington, DC 20036

More Info: (202)408-7600 x2 or Email susan@culturaltreasures.org


The Cultural Treasures Foundation sponsored a fascinating program on February 13, 2017 at the Embassy of Australia, as part of its series of educational events on topics of cultural importance. The evening was co-presented with the University Club of Washington, D.C.

The backdrop for the program was the stunning exhibition of contemporary Australian paintings by nine leading Aboriginal artists from remote northwest Australia. The Embassy was the last stop on a U.S. tour for “No Boundaries,” which features works from the collection of Debra and Dennis Scholl of Miami.

The evening began with a cocktail reception and an opportunity to view the works, followed by a discussion by Henry Skerritt, co-organizer of the exhibition. Mr. Skerritt is the curator of the Kluge-Ruhe Museum at the University of Virginia, which houses the foremost collection of Aboriginal art in the United States.

Although the paintings appear to have much in common with contemporary western abstract art, in fact they are uniquely Aboriginal. Mr. Skerritt placed the works in their historical and cultural context and explained how these innovative artists have transcended traditional boundaries.


About Our Speaker

Henry F. Skerritt, Curator of Indigenous Arts of Australia at the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia

 

Henry F. Skerritt is Curator of Indigenous Arts of Australia at the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection of the University of Virginia. He is currently completing his Ph.D in art history at the University of Pittsburgh. He is editor of the books Marking the Infinite: Contemporary Women Artists from Aboriginal Australia (2016) and No Boundaries: Contemporary Aboriginal Australian Abstract Painting (2015), and served as curatorial consultant on the touring exhibitions of the same names. Skerritt curated the exhibition Experimental Gentlemen (2011) at the Ian Potter Museum of Art, the University of Melbourne, and the touring exhibition Yimardoowarra: The Art of Loongkoonan (2016) through the Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection, University of Virginia.


Fiona Koschade and Arnold Lutzker introductory remarks

at the Cultural Treasures Foundation program, No Boundaries exhibition, Embassy of Australia in Washington, February 13, 2017

Henry Skerritt (Part 1)

presenting at the Cultural Treasures Foundation program, No Boundaries exhibition, Embassy of Australia in Washington, February 13, 2017

Henry Skerritt (Part 2)

presenting at the Cultural Treasures Foundation program, No Boundaries exhibition, Embassy of Australia in Washington, February 13, 2017


Henry Skerritt with Foundation Board members Susan Lutzker, Elizabeth Boles and Arnold Lutzker at the Embassy of Australia.
Source: Cultural Treasures Foundation

The Board

Cultural Treasure Foundation Board of Directors

Arnold P. Lutzker

President

Arnold Lutzker has decades of experience in intellectual property law, policy and education in Washington, DC. A long-time “SuperLawyer” as voted by his colleagues, he is known for his expertise and creative approach to addressing the constantly evolving legal issues presented by new media. In 1998 he formed Lutzker & Lutzker LLP with his wife Susan Lutzker and currently counsels clients engaged in a wide variety of pursuits (including film, television, publishing, photography, entertainment, arts and e-commerce as well as more conventional businesses) on the strategic exploitation of their intellectual property and resolution of disputes, both informally and, if necessary, through litigation. His practice includes counseling foreign businesses on expanding into the United States, and he recently participated in the U.S. government’s SelectUSA Brazil Road Show. He was instrumental in creating the concept for the exhibition Palace of Gold & Light: Treasures from the Topkapi, Istanbul and formed and represented the Palace Arts Foundation in negotiating the legal agreements for the exhibition, including the protocol with the Government of Turkey. He also served as special legal advisor to the national traveling art exhibition JEWELS OF THE ROMANOVS: Treasures of the Russian Imperial Court (1996-1998). Mr. Lutzker is a national board member, vice-chair and treasurer, as well as District of Columbia chapter president, of the International Network of Boutique Law Firms. He is also General Counsel and a board member of the Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington. He is a graduate of City College of New York (BA) and Harvard Law School (JD).

Susan J. Lutzker

Secretary-Treasurer

Susan Lutzker specializes in copyright and other issues related to the use of the Internet and new media in both litigation and transactional matters and also provides a full range of legal services to nonprofit clients. Prior to establishing Lutzker & Lutzker LLP with Arnold Lutzker, Ms. Lutzker spent twenty years as in-house attorney at the headquarters of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a federally-chartered nonprofit organization charged with mobilizing and leading the private preservation movement in the United States. She represented the National Trust in helping to finance complex projects designed to rehabilitate historic communities and landmark properties and build cultural pride, often in blighted inner-city neighborhoods. She developed a special interest in the operation of entrepreneurial activities by nonprofit organizations. Her practice includes counseling foreign businesses on expanding into the United States, and she recently participated in the U.S. government’s SelectUSA Brazil Road Show. She was instrumental in organizing and managing the Palace Arts Foundation and negotiated and supervised the implementation of agreements with museums, consultants, vendors and licensees for the exhibition Palace of Gold & Light: Treasures from the Topkapi, Istanbul. Ms. Lutzker is a graduate of Radcliffe College (AB) and Georgetown University Law School (JD).

Elizabeth M. Boles

Elizabeth M. (Beth) Boles has been a professor of political science and law for more than 25 years, teaching at U.C. Berkeley, Sarah Lawrence College, Pomona College, Ohio State University, and currently with American University's Washington College of Law. She was the founding director of two innovative programs in experiential education for U.C. Berkeley and for The John Glenn School of Public Affairs. She has written and spoken widely about issues in civic education, international education, and comparative politics and foreign policy. She speaks frequently with visiting foreign delegations of senior scholars and government officials, and serves as an enrichment lecturer examining the nexus among history, politics, and culture, most recently in Russia, Spain and South Africa. Ms. Boles earned her Bachelor's degree at Stanford University and her Master's and Ph.D. at U.C. Berkeley.

Linda Cohen

Linda Cohen has 40 years experience in non-profit fundraising and management. Since retiring from the non-profit world (her last position was as Director of Corporate and Foundation Funding for the National Trust for Historic Preservation), Linda has managed several small businesses and is currently vice president of the Old Forge Hardware in Old Forge, NY. Linda is active in historic preservation in upstate New York and is a trustee of The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties. She is an advisor to numerous regional arts organizations. Ms. Cohen is a graduate of Elmira College (BA, History of Art).

Tom Moriarity

Tom Moriarity has over 30 years of experience in historic preservation and specialized real estate, retail and tourism development consulting. He has directed strategic planning for major mixed-use projects and urban districts across the United States and in countries in Asia, Europe, South and Central America and the Middle East and created retail development strategies and design standards for a dozen major US and international airports. Mr. Moriarity has done consulting work for the Cleveland Museum of Art, New York’s Museum of Jewish Heritage, the American Museum of Jazz in Kansas City and the BB King Museum in Mississippi. His tourism development experience includes, in addition to museums, corporate visitor centers, resort settings and historic and cultural destinations. Mr. Moriarity was a founder of the Main Street Program® (a nationally-recognized methodology for revitalizing traditional and historic commercial districts) and the National Main Street Center and is on the boards of the Responsible Hospitality Institute, the Historic Preservation Education Foundation and the Preservation Action Foundation. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin (Bachelor of Architecture and Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies).

Daniel Schuman

Daniel Schuman has worked in strategic communications, public affairs, and cultural exchange. He is currently the deputy director of the Digital Outreach Team, a social media project focused on the Middle East and South Asia, for the U.S. Department of State. Previously, he was a U.S. Foreign Service Officer specializing in public diplomacy, and served in cultural and educational affairs assignments in U.S. Embassies in Africa, Latin America, and Europe. He also was director of the State Department’s cultural programs division, among other Washington-based assignments. Mr. Schuman is also a board member for Dana Tai Soon Burgess & Company, Washington’s leading modern dance company. He graduated from Yale and has an MBA, specializing in arts management, from Binghamton University.

Contact Us

Inquiries may be directed to:

Susan Lutzker • 1233 20th Street NW, Suite 703 • Washington DC 20036 • (202)408-7600 x2